Russian folk tale

The Fox and the Black Grouse

A short dialogue tale about a fox and a careful black grouse who stays safe in a tree.

A fox was running through the forest. She saw a black grouse sitting in a tree and called to him:

A fox looking up at a black grouse sitting on a birch branch

“Terenty, Terenty! I have been to town.”

“Boo-boo-boo, boo-boo-boo! If you have been, then you have been,” answered the black grouse.

“Terenty, Terenty! I brought a new order.”

“Boo-boo-boo, boo-boo-boo! If you brought it, then you brought it.”

“The order says that black grouses should no longer sit in trees, but walk freely in green meadows.”

“Boo-boo-boo, boo-boo-boo! If we must walk, then we will walk.”

The fox tries to persuade the black grouse to come down, but the bird stays in the tree

Just then the fox heard hoofbeats and dogs barking. “Terenty, who is coming there?” she asked.

“A man,” said the black grouse.

“And who is running behind him?”

“A little horse,” said the black grouse.

“What is its tail like?”

“Curved like a hook.”

“Well then, goodbye, Terenty! I have no time to stay,” said the fox, and she ran away.

The fox runs away along the forest path while the black grouse stays safe on the branch

The End.